The Danger Of Failed Church Discipline
While living in Indiana I took the opportunity to go and watch practice sessions at the Indianapolis 500. On one occasion I noticed immediately in front of me a young lad trying to get his mothers attention. He first began by
banging on her arm and screaming loudly. He then resorted to grabbing hold of his mothers hair and pulling violently. At this point you are probably concluding that this mother quickly snatched this little boy and took him out for some needed discipline.
(Proverbs 13:24). Well, I'm saddened to say she did absolutely nothing. One can only imagine what this little boy gets by with in the private circles at home if he is permitted to behave this way in public.
Failed discipline is at the very root of severe problems in our society today. When the so called do-gooders in the world would submit to the fact that God has outlined discipline to be administered in each of his divine institutions, then will
authority be in the proper hands and Gods rule administered as he has so designed.
Today we concern ourselves with discipline in the church. This is a much neglected subject in many places, in fact,
failure to teach and practice it has resulted in great harm to the church. I fear that many times corrective discipline is not administered out of the concept that it is not a Bible subject. Church discipline is a Bible subject and needs to be
studied.
Discipline
The word "discipline" means: (1). "Treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education; development of the faculties by instruction and exercise;
training. (2). Training to act in accordance with established rules (3). Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control. (4). Severe training, corrective of faults, punishment. (5). Correction, chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of
correction and training." (Webster)
The New Testament doesn't use the English word "discipline" but does use the word "disciple" and refers to "instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The New
Testament provides for both the instruction and correction of a disciple when there is a failure to submit to the order and control of the word of God.
Instructive Discipline- This is the molding of one
into a new way of life (2 Cor. 5:17; Romans 6:13,22; Galatians 5:22-26; Col. 3:12-17). God leads men to him by teaching, and disciplines his children the same way (Mt. 28:19-20; I Tim. 3:15). The church, being God's teaching institution (I Thess. 1:8),
is to edify itself (Eph. 4:16; 4:12; Rom. 14:19). Since the church is edified by teaching and study of the word of God, the various meetings in which the word is taught are designed to discipline us (instruct and train us for God's service). (ex: Bible
classes, gospel meetings etc...) (Titus 2:1-6) For a Christian to refuse to gather is to rebel against God's appointed way for the public instruction and development of his child.
Corrective Discipline-The
following passages show that corrective action is to be taken upon those who will not respond to the instruction of the Lord: (Matthew 18:17; Rom. 16:17; I Cor. 5:5,13; I Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6,14; I Tim. 1:20). When members refuse the instruction of
the Lord, then those who walk in his teaching must obey his instruction and correct those in error. If we refuse to do this, then we become disobedient to God!
The Importance Of The Motive Behind What We Do In
God's Service.
When we sing we must be singing to please God (Col. 3:16). Baptism must be for the right purpose to make it acceptable (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:17). The same is true of corrective discipline, when
a brother or sister is to be publicly marked and withdrawn from. The Bible teaches that under some circumstances the action is necessary, but it must be done with the right motive.
(1). We must respect the
authority of Christ. In the church, all authority is his (Eph. 1:22-23; Heb. 1:1,2; Mt. 28:20). The Lord taught that efforts should be made to reclaim brethren who fall into sin. (Mt. 18:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:2; Gal. 6:1; I Thess. 5:14; James 5:19-20). He
also taught that those who do not heed his instruction should be corrected in the form of being excluded from the fellowship and recognition of the saints. (Romans 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6,14; Titus 3:10; I Cor. 5:5,7,13). Since this is what the Lord taught,
then a failure on our part to obey him is a denial of his authority. (Rev. 22:14; Luke 6:46).
(2). We must protect the purity of the church. Notice friends that the danger of uncorrected sin in the church
creates spots, wrinkles and blemishes (Eph. 5:27). If not corrected this sin will work as leaven to corrupt the rest of the church. (I Cor. 5:6,7), thus, a diseased member of the spiritual body which is not healed will be as harmful to it as a festered
member of the human body would be to it. (2 Tim. 2:17-18). Friends, corruption in the church causes it to lose its influence for good and thereby impedes the progress of the gospel.
(3). We must seek the
salvation of the wayward member. We should never discipline a member in the corrective sense out of spite, bitterness, or a vindictive spirit. Never should such action be hastily pursued without much thought and prayer. It should only be considered when
all apparent efforts have failed and there is no other choice except to act or disobey Christ. You see, the ultimate purpose of "delivering him to Satan" is that his soul may be saved (I Cor. 5:5). One is to learn "not to blaspheme" (I Tim. 1:20). He is
to "be made ashamed" of himself for the course he has chosen. (2 Thess. 3:14). By being delivered "unto Satan" to find his companionship among the lost, he is to be brought to his senses and made to realize how badly he needs the Lord and his people!
Truly, all of this is done for the purpose of saving his soul as he is brought to repentance.
(4). Others May Fear. I Timothy 5:20; Acts 5:11- "and great fear came upon all the church..."
Just as the little boy at the beginning of this article surely caused great havoc in that home and to himself with neglected discipline, I believe one can see how great havoc is caused in the Lords' church when proper discipline
is not administered. Let's eliminate all the excuses from doing what God has commanded and follow all of Gods commandments for his church.
Rick
Christian
January, 1997 Volume 3 Issue 1
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